Help! Tired FT ESC?

[FrankFly]

My first FT build was a tiny trainer using the "A" power pack. This workhorse has been flying nearly a year and been through a lot with my learning curve. Recently, the power started quitting in flight. No thrust but still had flight control. It usually happened about 65 to 75 seconds after take-off. After recovering the plane, (Why we wear hiking boots to fly) I could just set it down and take right off again and it might go 20 seconds or 3 minutes before it would quit again. I discovered that if I dropped the throttle stick to minimum and back up again, the motor might restart, but not every time.

I traded out the "Flite Test FT 20A ESC w/XT-30 Connector" for another brand and the trainer flies reliably again. I would like to, however, recover or repair the FT ESC to use it in my lighter planes like my mini-scouts. It's 10 grams lighter than any other 20A ESCs I have.

Does anyone know a control sequence to reset this ESC? Or any other ideas for returning it to reliability?

Thank you

 

[JasonK]

What motor/prop are you using and what battery? Is the ESC getting hot?
It sounds like you might be hitting some sort of over current/overheat protection. It doesn't sound like a software issue where you could just 'reprogram' it to fix the issue.

 

[FrankFly]

What motor/prop are you using and what battery? Is the ESC getting hot?
It sounds like you might be hitting some sort of over current/overheat protection. It doesn't sound like a software issue where you could just 'reprogram' it to fix the issue.

Thanks, Jason.

Good observation. I'm using the flight test A motor (1806 2280Kv) and the A kit 6x3 prop. No, it doesn't get hot. I've positioned it inside the power pack, and also behind the power pack, and it happens in both locations.

But you are making me think I might try swapping that ESC into another plane like a mini-scout where I'm using the same size motor with a 4x4.5 prop to see what happens.

 

[JasonK]

that motor/prop combo works fine on 3S for me with that ESC in all my planes.

 

[FrankFly]

Yes, and I have had it in 2 planes for nearly a year with no trouble until a few weeks ago. Maybe that ESC caught a virus? Sorry, bad joke right now.

I don't know if those ESC's wear out? I doubt there is a warranty.

 

[LitterBug]

Those ESCs are standard equipment in the Strix Nano Goblin. I upgraded my first NG to one, and built my 2nd with one. So far no issues.

LB

 

[Merv]

All ESC eventually go bad, I’m sure it could be repaired by an electronics nerd. For us mere mortals, I’m not sure it’s worth it.

Time for a replacement.

 

[FrankFly]

All ESC eventually go bad, I’m sure it could be repaired by an electronics nerd. For us mere mortals, I’m not sure it’s worth it.

Time for a replacement.

Good point, Merv. I had a 30A esc burst into flames and singe the inside of my first ft Simple Scout.

 

[Thomas B]

All ESC eventually go bad, I’m sure it could be repaired by an electronics nerd. For us mere mortals, I’m not sure it’s worth it.

Time for a replacement.

Eventually can be a very long time. I have a couple of Brushless ESCs in regular use that are 18 years old. Never crashed, never overloaded, never used with overlong battery leads, which can stress the ESC and the capacitors mounted next to the battery plus and minus leads on the ESC board.

Lots of very cheap ESCs around with cheap components, though, that tend to not last as long.

 

[FrankFly]

Here's the latest.

The problem plane had a Flite Test branded 20A ESC and Flite Test branded 1806 2280Kv motor. I swapped the ESC with another plane so the Flite Test branded 20A ESC is now paired with a no-brand 1806 2280Kv motor. And the Flite Test motor is paired with a 20A SkyWalker ESC.

Too windy to test-fly today so I tethered each plane and ran them each full-throttle through a full 650 mAh 3s battery. No motor cutouts on either plane.

So for now, it seems the problem requires a certain ESC, motor (and prop and receiver?) combination. Test flights to confirm when possible.